1864 The owner looked him up and down, "Yeah?" "I'd like a room and possibly a job?" Mark said staring back at the
man. "Jeez, not another one. Why don't you go on down to the Mahaffey spread,
they seem to like your type." Not every stop had been as welcoming to him
as Boston and he sure hoped this wasn't going to more of the same. If he wanted
to be treated like a second class citizen he could have stayed home. Luckily he
met a worker on the Mahaffey ranch who gave him a ride out to it, it was huge
and dominated the landscape. It was just like one of the westerns he had read
and brought life to the desert around him. "If you're looking for a job Mr. Filan's around back with the horses.
He'll take care of you." the hand said and left Mark by the stables. "Filan? It couldn't be ..." "Feehily? Is that you standing there like a turnip? How the hell are
ye?" It was Shane, one of the lads from down the road and just one of many
who had left Ireland for something better. "I've been better to be honest. I'm looking for a job, you're the man to
see they told me." He smiled broadly, "Aye, I am. You're looking at
the foreman of this ranch. So are you interested in horses or cattle?" Mark
made a face to imply neither and Shane laughed at him. "Sorry mate,
butler's job is gone. If cattle is good enough for Kian it'll do you fine."
"Egan's here too huh? Small world really, three Sligo boys on the other
side of the world together. Cattle it is then, when do I start?" * * * * * * * * * * * * * "You just do. What did you expect it would be like?" Kian said
throwing a rock in Mark's general direction. "I didn't really. If you told me I'd be in California working with cows
I'd have told ya to get your head examined. What brought you here?" Kian grinned a cheeky grin, "The glamour of course. I'd heard men were
making huge riches and being their own boss, that's good enough for me. Once I
save up enough money I'm leaving for the promised land just further west to have
my own place. Me and a gorgeous wife with tons of kids to run a spread twice as
big as this, with a much more competent forehand than the one they have
here." Shane sat up on his horse, pretending to ignore his friend. "And you
Shane, what's your story?" "I had nothing better to do when Kian asked me if I wanted to head
west." "You're such a liar. He was just about to made a 'honest man' by Mr.
Shea who found him in the barn with Mary Margret. He ran for his life!" Again Shane just shrugged, letting Kian ramble. "Whatever happened to ol'
Lord Williams? I'd have figured you would have fought him for your family's
land." Mark was glad for the burn on his cheeks that would have belied his
guilty conscience. "He had an accident and died. I'm going to grab a drink of water, be
back soon." Shane and Kian just looked at each other oddly. Mark literally
dunked his head into the water, trying to keep cool. He shook off the water and
something in the distance caught his eye. A huge carriage carrying two women
arrived at the man house. "Looks like Princess is home." Kian called back to the men working
which met with chuckles. "Who?" Mark asked confused. "Princess our nickname for the owner's daughter. He brought her and her
mother here to keep them away from the War and she is one tough cookie! To be honest she's.." Kian interrupted Shane. "A bitch. Cold as ice." Shane sighed, "Very intelligent, and probably shy. She's just back from
studying abroad in France, most likely you won't see her at all." Mark
squinted off in the distance, he could only hope so. "Mark, are you with
us?", "Sorry, I wasn't listening." "Obviously. It's time to head in, we're going to the saloon tonight.
There's a new singer we're going to check out."
Mark finally pulled into the train station and gave a long yawn. He'd
been travelling from one side of this massive nation to the other looking for
something new. His travels had brought him to California, a land becoming known
for new starts. He felt dusty and grimy and in need of a bath so he headed for
the hotel, the only one on this 3 street town. "I thought Sligo was
tiny." he thought as he dropped his bag at the counter.
"God, I ache. My bloody head is about to split open from this heat,
how do you get used to it?" Mark was moaning on after only a couple of days
on the job. He wasn't normally a pisser but this was serious heat and barren
land, not his ideal conditions.